Collapsible funnel or the like



Dec. 17, 1929. DQNNELLY 1,740,418

COLLAPSIBLE FUNN EL OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 20. 1928 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 STATES THOMAS H. DONNELLY, 0F CRANSTON, RI-IODE- ISLAND COLLAPSIBLE FUNNEL OR THE LIKE Application filed August 20, 1928.

My invention relates to a combination col lapsible tunn l and drinking cup.

It is an object of my invention to provide a collapsible tunnel which is capable of giving service for passing fluids into vessels and which is capable of being collapsed into small volume so that it may be easily carried without requiring much space.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combination collapsible funnel and drinking cup having two series of telescoping conical sections, both secured to an intermediate member for service as a bottom for the drinking cup and the collapsed article and has a support for resting against the mouth of the vessel when the article is used as a tunnel.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the detail description which follows.

I attain these objects and advantages by means of the article illustrated in the drawing wherein Figure l is in assembly view of the article in its extended form showing the top and bottom covers.

Figure 2 is a view showing the article as it appears when collapsed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown the article in its extended form comprising the upper series of telescoping sections A which constitute the body of the funnel, the bottom member B and the lower series of telescoping sections C which constitute the stem of the funnel, the top cover D and the bottom cover E. The upper series of conical sections comprises the sections 1, 2, 3, and the lower series C comprises the sections 5, 6, 7. 8 and 9. The bottom member B is made slightly concave toprovide a slope at its cen tral portion. The section 1 of the upper series A is secured or attached to the bottom member B in watertightengagement in any suitable way. The bottom member B is provided with an opening therein within which is securely fastened the upper section 5 which remains permanently in place and which holds the succeeding sections 6, 7, 8 and 9. The bottom member B is oi": substantially the same diameter as thegreatest diameter of the Serial No. 300,863.

frusto-conical section 8. The bottom cover E is provided with a stamped out portion 11 for accommodating the portion of the section 5 which extends below the bottom member B. The bottom member B is adapted to receive the bottom cover E by a force fit. The top cover D also tits on the section 4 by a force fit.

It will be seen that when the device is used as a tunnel that the lower series C of the conical sect-ion is inserted within the neck or mouth of the vessel to which fluid is to be transferred, the member B contacting the mouth of the vessel to act as a support for the funnel. When the article is to be used as a drinking cup the lower series of the conical section is collapsed and the cover E forced on the bottom member B, the upper series A being extended. When used as a funnel it is possible to remove any of the move le sections of the bottom series C so that a greater or lesser number of sections may be used. The

section 9 can be removed through the open ing 10 as well as the section 8 and so on, with the exception of the fixed section 5. The upper series cannot be removed by reason of their construction, as the section 1 is fixedly secured to the bottom member 13. By reason of the slight concavity in the bottom member B it will be seen that all the fluid will pass through the funnel and will not gather in the portion of the bottom member B adjacent the section 5. The article may be made of aluminum or any suitable material as this does not constitute any part of the invention.

lVhen collapsed and in condition for carrying around it has the appearance shown in Figure 2, the smaller series of sections being inclosed within the upper series of telescoping sections. The tunnel may be made in varying sizes as the need may be. The sections which are of successively smaller diameter and tapering in shape, may be varying in size and number without departing from the principle of this invention.

All that has been said above in the description of my preferred embodiment is oliered by way of illustration and not limitation. I do not wish to be limited to the exact struc ture of the preferred embodiment shown and described, or to any particular material used in the construction of parts, or to the design of parts, but desire protection as against any variations in structure or substitution of equivalents which utilize the principle of my invention and fall within the purview of my invention and are within the spirit and scope oi the following claims:

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1 A combination funnel and drinkingcup comprising in combination a bottom member having a central opening therein, a series of large telescoping sections secured to one side of said bottom member adjacent said central.

opening, a second series of smaller telescoping members secured to the other side of said bottom member, the topmost section of said second series being flush with the upper surface of said bottom member and protruding below, said second series of telescopin sections being adapted, when collapsed, to lie within the series of large telescoping sections, and a cover adapted to fit on said bot tom member when the second series is collapsed.

2. In an article of the character described, I

an annular member having a slight concavity in its central portion, a plurality of telescoping conical sections secured to said annular member on its concave surface, said annular member having an opening therein of substantially lesser diameter than any of said telescoping sections, a second series of telescoping sections secured to said annular memher, the topmost section of said second series being fixedly attached within said opening and being flush with the upper surface of said annular member, the remaining sections of said second series being adapted to depend from said topmost section and form a stem, said remaining sections of said second series of telescoping sections being adapted, when collapsed, to lie within the plurality of sections secured to the upper surface of the bottom member, a top cover for fitting onto the largest section above said bottom member, and a bottom. cover for fitting onto the said bottom member.

Signed at Fall River in the county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, this sixteenth day of August, 1928.

' THOMAS H. DONNELLY. 

